Alexander Smukler | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 1960 (age 63–64) Moscow, Soviet Union |
Nationality | American |
Known for | National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry |
Alexander Smukler (born 1960) is a Soviet-born American businessman, who is the chairman of the board of Agroterminal LTD and the chairman of the board of Century 21: Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. [1] [2] [3] He is a former managing partner of Ariel Investment Group, which develops commercial enterprises and civil engineering projects in Russia. [4]
Smukler is a former refusenik who advocated for the rights of Jews in the former Soviet Union. [5] He left the Soviet Union in 1991 and moved to the United States, where he became a prominent member of the American Jewish community and continued his activism on behalf of Jews from the former Soviet Union. [2]
Smukler was elected president of National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry in 2008. [2]
The Smukler family's ancestry can be traced back for many generations in Russia. [6] The family history is the subject of a book called The Tsar’s Drummer: A Story of Courage and Resilience, published in 2019. [6] Smukler's mother was a doctor who worked in a space-related research program. [7]
Smukler began studying Hebrew in the late 1970s. [8] He completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Moscow University of Technology in civil construction. [9]
In the 1980s, Smukler participated in underground samizdat networks, expanding the variety of reading material available to Soviet Jews. [10] He applied for an exit visa in 1985. [8] He was refused permission to emigrate and forced to live on odd jobs. [11] Smukler supported his family by giving chess lessons. [6] He was a Hebrew student of Yuli Edelstein, a refusenik who later became speaker of the Israeli Knesset. [7]
In 1987, Smukler became the editor of The Information Bulletin on Issues of Repatriation and Jewish Culture and joined the organizational committee Mashka. [8] [10] Mashka was a secret group of eight people who coordinated efforts to take care of prisoners of Zion, support the families of the prisoners, and teach Hebrew. [12]
In 1987, Smukler told The New York Times that the policies of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev gave some hope that the Soviet Union would become more democratic. [11]
In 1989, author Leon Uris visited Russia. Smukler presented Uris with an underground handmade copy of Uris' novel Exodus in Russian. [10] One witness at the meeting said that Smukler's gift brought Uris close to tears. [13]
Smukler was the founder of Vaad, the first independent Jewish movement in the Soviet Union. [14] Vaad was an umbrella organization of Jewish cultural groups. [15]
Smukler was the executive director of B’nai B’rith of the USSR and the Jewish Information Center of Moscow. [2] [16]
He left the Soviet Union in 1991. [2] He told The Jewish Chronicle that year that there was no decrease in antisemitism in the Soviet Union and there were almost daily antisemitic demonstrations. [15]
In 2004, Smukler was elected vice president of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ). [9] In 2008, he was elected president of the organization. [2]
As the head of NCSEJ, Smukler represented Russian-speaking Jews at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. [17] In 2020, Smukler said he was surprised that the Conference of Presidents elected Dianne Lob as incoming chair. Smukler said that Lob had "a clear record of partnering with anti-Israel organizations like J Street, IfNotNow, CAIR and others." [18]
Smukler is the president and founder of the American Foundation for Orphans Abroad. [2]
Smukler lives in Montclair, New Jersey. [6] He is married and has three sons. [19]
Smukler is an art collector with a substantial collection of Russian–Jewish art. [6]
Alexander Smukler | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 1960 (age 63–64) Moscow, Soviet Union |
Nationality | American |
Known for | National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry |
Alexander Smukler (born 1960) is a Soviet-born American businessman, who is the chairman of the board of Agroterminal LTD and the chairman of the board of Century 21: Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. [1] [2] [3] He is a former managing partner of Ariel Investment Group, which develops commercial enterprises and civil engineering projects in Russia. [4]
Smukler is a former refusenik who advocated for the rights of Jews in the former Soviet Union. [5] He left the Soviet Union in 1991 and moved to the United States, where he became a prominent member of the American Jewish community and continued his activism on behalf of Jews from the former Soviet Union. [2]
Smukler was elected president of National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry in 2008. [2]
The Smukler family's ancestry can be traced back for many generations in Russia. [6] The family history is the subject of a book called The Tsar’s Drummer: A Story of Courage and Resilience, published in 2019. [6] Smukler's mother was a doctor who worked in a space-related research program. [7]
Smukler began studying Hebrew in the late 1970s. [8] He completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Moscow University of Technology in civil construction. [9]
In the 1980s, Smukler participated in underground samizdat networks, expanding the variety of reading material available to Soviet Jews. [10] He applied for an exit visa in 1985. [8] He was refused permission to emigrate and forced to live on odd jobs. [11] Smukler supported his family by giving chess lessons. [6] He was a Hebrew student of Yuli Edelstein, a refusenik who later became speaker of the Israeli Knesset. [7]
In 1987, Smukler became the editor of The Information Bulletin on Issues of Repatriation and Jewish Culture and joined the organizational committee Mashka. [8] [10] Mashka was a secret group of eight people who coordinated efforts to take care of prisoners of Zion, support the families of the prisoners, and teach Hebrew. [12]
In 1987, Smukler told The New York Times that the policies of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev gave some hope that the Soviet Union would become more democratic. [11]
In 1989, author Leon Uris visited Russia. Smukler presented Uris with an underground handmade copy of Uris' novel Exodus in Russian. [10] One witness at the meeting said that Smukler's gift brought Uris close to tears. [13]
Smukler was the founder of Vaad, the first independent Jewish movement in the Soviet Union. [14] Vaad was an umbrella organization of Jewish cultural groups. [15]
Smukler was the executive director of B’nai B’rith of the USSR and the Jewish Information Center of Moscow. [2] [16]
He left the Soviet Union in 1991. [2] He told The Jewish Chronicle that year that there was no decrease in antisemitism in the Soviet Union and there were almost daily antisemitic demonstrations. [15]
In 2004, Smukler was elected vice president of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ). [9] In 2008, he was elected president of the organization. [2]
As the head of NCSEJ, Smukler represented Russian-speaking Jews at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. [17] In 2020, Smukler said he was surprised that the Conference of Presidents elected Dianne Lob as incoming chair. Smukler said that Lob had "a clear record of partnering with anti-Israel organizations like J Street, IfNotNow, CAIR and others." [18]
Smukler is the president and founder of the American Foundation for Orphans Abroad. [2]
Smukler lives in Montclair, New Jersey. [6] He is married and has three sons. [19]
Smukler is an art collector with a substantial collection of Russian–Jewish art. [6]